Valve timing control apparatus

Abstract

A driven-side rotator is rotatable synchronously with a camshaft and is supported between a gear member and a sprocket member of the driving-side rotator in an axial direction. A stopper portion of the driven-side rotator is adapted to contact the driving-side rotator in a rotational direction to limit a change in a relative phase between the crankshaft and the camshaft. The stopper portion radially outwardly projects from a small diameter portion provided at one end part of the driven-side rotator. A large diameter portion is provided at the other end part of the driven-side rotator and has a radial size that is measured from a rotational axis to a radially outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion and is equal to or larger than that of the stopper portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve timing control apparatus comprising:
 a first rotator that is rotatable synchronously with one of a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, wherein the first rotator includes a first gear portion; 
 a second rotator that is coaxially received in the first rotator and is supported at both sides of the second rotator in an axial direction by the first rotator, wherein the second rotator is rotatable synchronously with the other one of the crankshaft and the camshaft and includes:
 a stopper portion that is adapted to contact the first rotator in a rotational direction to limit a change in a relative phase between the crankshaft and the camshaft; and 
 a second gear portion; and 
 
 a planetary gear that is meshed with the first gear portion and the second gear portion and is adapted to make a planetary motion and thereby to change the relative phase between the crankshaft and the camshaft, wherein: 
 valve timing of a valve, which is opened and closed by the camshaft, is adjusted through transmission of a torque from the crankshaft; 
 the second rotator includes:
 a small diameter portion, from which the stopper portion projects radially outward at a circumferential part of the small diameter portion; and 
 a large diameter portion, which has an outer diameter that is equal to or larger than an outer diameter of the stopper portion with respect to a rotational axis of the second rotator; and 
 
 the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the second rotator are supported at the both sides of the second rotator in the axial direction by the first rotator. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve timing control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the large diameter portion of the second rotator is larger than the outer diameter of the stopper portion. 
     
     
       3. The valve timing control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second rotator has the small diameter portion at one axial end part of the second rotator and the large diameter portion at the other axial end part of the second rotator, which is opposite from the one axial end part of the second rotator. 
     
     
       4. The valve timing control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second rotator is received in the first rotator, which is rotatable synchronously with the crankshaft, and is rotatable synchronously with the camshaft, which is joined to the second rotator in the axial direction. 
     
     
       5. The valve timing control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second rotator is placed adjacent to the planetary gear in the axial direction. 
     
     
       6. The valve timing control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second rotator includes a radially extending section, which connects between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion; and 
 the stopper portion is continuous from the radially extending section in the axial direction.